Air compressor



Dec. 22, 1925- 1,566,963

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Dec. 22, 1925- 1,566,963

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Dec 22, 1925. 1,566,963

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Patented Dec. 22, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GALEN C. HARGROVE, OF PADUC AH, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES E. RIGLESBERG-ER, F PADUCAH, KENTUCKY.

AIR COMPRESSOR.

Application filed December 11, 1922, Serial No. 606,825. Renewed September 21, 1925.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that GALEN C. HARoRovE,-a citizen of the United States, residing at Paducah, in the county of McCracken and 6 State of Kentucky, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air Compressors, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to air coinpressing mechanism and particularly to an electrically operated apparatus wherein a reciprocable piston is moved on its compression or working stroke through the medium of an energized field winding, constituting an electro-inagnet of which said piston is the armature.

The invention relates further to a circuit interrupter operated in connection with the fly wheel of the-compressor, whereby said field winding is alternately energized and deenergized to draw the piston-armature into the winding and permit it, through its connection with the fly wheel, to be withdrawn.

Among the numerous features of the invention, the objects and advantages of which will be apparent to those familiar with the art to WlllCll this invention relates, are, the novel construction and arrangement of the field Winding and its mounting; a, novel system of water cooling the heated parts, and the particular form of the circuit maker and breaker and its relation to the fly-wheel and its supporting means.

In the accompanying drawings ,which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete apparatus;

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the motor cylinder and the field winding therefor;

F igure3 is an end view of the fly-wheel and its supporting structure with parts shown in section to'illustrate certain interior constructions;

Figure 4 is a vertical section through a portion of the fly-wheel on the line4-4 of Figure 3; and I Figure 5 is a longitudinal SQCtIOHOf the slide cylinder showing the cross-head mounted therein.

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Figure 7 is a transverse section of the inner cylinder.

. Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the invention.

Figure 9 shows a detail view of the invehtion.

Referring now more particularly to the several figures of the drawings by numerals of reference, the compressor as disclosed embodies an inner cylinder 3 within which reciprocates the piston 4, which latter in fact constitutes the armature of the electromagnet to be later described. The piston is provided, as usual, with suitable packing rings 5.

At its outer end, the cylinder is exteriorly threaded at 6 to accommodate the centrally threaded opening of a disk-like plate 8 which seats against an annular flange 9 formed on said cylinder adjacent its outer end, a packing gasket 10 serving to provide a fluid-tight joint at this point. At its 0 posite end, the cylinder 3 is also exteriorly threaded at 13 to receive the internally threaded enlargement 14 of a guide or slide cylinder 15.

Adjacent the threaded end 12 of the cylinder 3, but spaced inwardly therefrom, said cylinder is provided with an annular flange 16 similar to the flange 9, the said flange 16 serving as an abutment for a disklike plate 18, in a manner similar to the flange 9, and of the same diameter, a packing gasket 19 being provided to maintain a fluid-tight joint at this point.

The outer face of the plate 18 is provided with an annular externally screwthreaded flange 20 which cooperates with an internally screw-threaded portion of an annular water housing 21 which is rectangular in longitudinal section and is constituted by the horizontal wall 22 and the vertical centrally perforated wall 24. Adjacent the point where the threaded end 13 of the innencylinder 3 is joined with the guide or slide cylinder 15, the said inner cylinder passes through the central perforation 25 of the housing 21, the guide cylinder being turned sufficiently upon its threads to bring the end thereof into abutment with that portion of the wall 24 in proximity to the aperture, a packing gasket 26 serving to assure a fluid tight joint.

The housing 21 constitutes a portion of a system whereby the inner cylinder and parts in proximity thereto may be water cooled by a constantly flowing current of water, said housing being in communication through an annular series of apertures 28, with longitudinal chambers 30 arranged around and in the wall of the inner cylinder 3, the particular form of which chambers 30 may vary to suit the most eflicient cooling conditions. The housing is supplied with water through an inlet pipe 31. For the purpose of supplying a lubricant to the interior of the cylinder, there is provided an oil inlet pipe 32 which passes through an opening 33 in the plate 18 and is threaded at its inner end into an aperture 34 opening into said cylinder.

Concentric with the inner cylinder 3 and arranged thereover, is an outer cylindrical shell 35, the inner wall of which may rest at its ends upon-the outer periphery of the disk-like plates 8 and 18 and if necessary may have any suitable form of interconnecting or sealing means, although it is not essential that the adjacent portions be actually in contact. One reason for sealing the parts would be to exclude dirt and moisture.

At what may be termed its outer end, the shell is closed by awall 36, the central portion of which may be increased in thickness at its central portion to provide thehead of the cylinder 3, the working chamber of which is indicated at 39. The shell 35 and its end wall 36 which is preferably formed integral therewith, is secured to the fixed disk-like plate 8 through the medium of an annular series of lag-bolts 40 which pass through apertures in the thickened portion 38 of the end wall 36 and enters registering threaded openings 42in said plate 8 and through an annular packing gasket 44 provide a fluid-tight joint at this point.

Offset. from its axis, the head 38, is provided with an intake valve 45, the stem of which is surrounded by a convolute compression spring 46 serving to hold the valve against its seat 47, but permitting it to open inwardly upon the suction stroke of the piston.

The head 38 is also provided with an outlet opening 48 having a check-valve if necessary, which outlet opening may communicate with a receiver for the fluid compressed by the piston on its working stroke.

The field of the electro-magnet is con stituted by a winding of suitably insulated wire 50, the helices of which are wound upon and supported by the inner cylinder 3 and between the disklike plates 8 and 18 and also housed by the outer sleeve 35. The ends 51 and 52 of the winding are carried through openings in the plate 8 and end wall of the sleeve by insulating bushings 54.

The compressor thus described is mounted upon a base or platform 55 and secured thereto by bands or straps 56, which pass around the upper portion of the shell 35 and at their lower ends are fastened as at 59 to the said base.

Joined to the outer end of the armaturepiston 4 by a threaded coupling 60, is a piston rod 62, the other end of which rod is connected through an eye 63 with a wrist rically opposite lugs 66 arranged on the cross-head, and serve to prevent relative circumferential motion between the cylinder 3 and said cross-head.

The cross-head 64 is also connected, through the transverse wrist pin 68, with a connecting rod 70, the latter, as is usual, being provided with eyes 72 formed in the opposed arms thereof, and said arms in practice straddling the eye portion 63 of the piston rod. The wrist pin is=secured through the medium of a set screw 74.

The fly-wheel which is shown at 80, and embodies two inertia. members 82, spaced apart and having respectively centrally arranged trunnions' or shafts 84 suitably secured, as by a threaded connection 86 with its respective inertia member, and said trunnionsor shaftsbeing respectively mounted through roller bearing boxes 88 in the upper ends 89 of pedestals or standards 80 rising from one end of the base 55. lVhile I have shown one specific form of ball bearing construction, it is understood that any adequate arrangement may be substituted therefor, such as will serve' the purpose for which it is intended.

The inertia members 82 are joined, so that they will rotate in unison through an intermediate crank pin 81, the opposite ends of which are threaded at 82 into opposed threaded recesses in the respective inertia members.

To the end that the field winding of the electro-magnetic motor may be periodically and alternately energized and deenergized, I provide a periodic circuit maker and breaker which I have found most convenient. and efficient to associate with the fly wheel, and accordingly, I provide one of the inertia members thereof with a concentric facial recess 90, and mount therein, and secure thereto by suitable means, a band 91 ofinsulating material, said band having its inner surface recessed throughout a portion of its circumr ference to receive an inset segmental brass conducting strip 92 secured by rivets 93.

Clamped upon the inner end 95 of the uper portion 89 of one of the standards 80, y a bolt 96, is a split shell 98 of generally frusto-conical form, the free end 99 of whichis tubular; and extends within the facial recess 90and'is concentric with the shaft orv trunnion 87.

Riveted or otherwise secured as atlOQ to. the outer wall of the tubular end 99 o suitable compression spring 106, to the end that rubbing contact under pressure may be exerted by the brush upon the inner periphery of the conducting strip 92 carried by the insulating band 91.

One end 51 of the conductor which leads from the Winding of the field of the electromagnet is suitably and electrically connected with the brush 104 as at 108, while the other end 52, is ounded as at 114: to the metal frame of t e supporting standards.

It will'be, of course, understood that a' suitable source of E. M. F. is interposed in the circuit which includes the field winding of the electro-magnet and the ends 51'and 52, such source of E. M. F. being here indicated as a. simple storage battery. 116, although a. generator may be employed if desired.

Having thus shown and described my invention in such manner as will enable others skilled in the art to construct and operate an engine in accordance with the present construction, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. In an electric air compressor, a. cylinder, a field winding th'ereztor, a piston reciprocable within said cylinder, a fly wheel, connecting rods between said fly wheel and said piston, a circuit maker and breakeron said fly wheel and electrical conductors connecting said field winding with said circuit maker and breaker. V

2., In an electric air compressor, a cylinder, afield winding wound thereon, a piston within said cylinder, a water jacket formed in the wall of said cylinder, means for supplying a cooling fluid to said water jacket, a gfly wheel connected to said iston, a clrcuit interrupter on said fly whee and electrical conductors in circuit with said field winding and said circuit interrupter.

In anelectric air compressor, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable within said cylport, an

inders, a field winding on said cylinder, plates mounted on said cylinder adjacent opposite ends thereof, said winding being con: fined between said plates, an outer housin for said field winding, a head plate for sai cylinder having fluid intake and outlet openings, a water acket formed in the wall of said cylinder, means for supplying a cooling fluid to said jacket and means for periodig cally interrupting the circuit through said field winding.

4. In an e ectric air compressor, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, a field winding on said cylinder, plates mounted on sai cylinder adjacent opposite ends thereof, said winding being confined between said plates, an outer housing for said field winding, a water jacket formed in the wall of said cylinder, a water housing surrounding said cylinder at one end and connected with the end plate coincident thereto, means of communication between said housing and said water jacket of said cylinder, means for supplying a cooling fluid to said water housing and means for periodically interrupting the circuit through said field winding.

5. In an electric air compressor, a cylinder, a field winding therefor, an armaturepiston reciprocable within the cylinder, :1

y wheel, connecting rods connecting said fly Wheel and said piston, a support for said fly wheel, a contact. strip carried by said fly-wheel, a brush carried by said support and electrical conductors connecting said standard and said brush with said field winding, whereby the latter is periodically energized.

6. In an electric air compressor a cylinder, a field winding thereon, a armature-piston reciprocable within said cylinder, a fly wheel, connecting rods connecting said fly wheel and said piston, a support for said fly wheel, said fly wheel having a circular recess formed in one face thereof concentric with the axis thereof, a segmental conradially and outwardly spring pressed brush ada ted to contact with the inner face of sai contact strip, a support for said brush detachabhy clamped on said fly wheel supsaid field winding and said brush whereby said field windin is periodically energized.v In testimony w ereof I afix my signature.

GALEN o. HARGROVE.

tact strip supported within said recess, a

electrical conductors connecting 

